“ — ......if you and your offspring
would live — by loving, heeding the commandments. For thereby you shall have
life and shall long endure upon the soil that the benefitted to your ancestors,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them."
(Deuteronomy 30:15 - 30:20)
How does this powerful passage have meaning in today’s
‘modern’ world and how might it apply?
Who are today's Abrahams, Isaacs, and Jacobs (or Ruths and Esthers)? Who
just might be OUR heroes who have had a powerful impact full of benevolence,
show reverence and had a strong social and moralistic impact? Nelson Mandela,
Harriet Tubman, Bill Gates, Princess Di, Harvey Milk, Abraham Lincoln, Colin Kaepernick
are just some of the considerations of heroes of everyday life, past and
present. Each has made a major impact
in modern history and has enabled humans of all and many backgrounds some personal
freedoms and liberties!
Harvey Milk is a person I’d like to present & how
this Torah portion, especially this last passage relates and pertains to him.
Harvey Bernard Milk (B. May 22, 1930 – D. November 27,
1978):
“American politician who became the first openly gay
man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San
Francisco Board of Supervisors.”
Like most progressive and impactful people, controversy
surrounded and built up around him until, he said later, "I finally
reached the point where I knew I had to become involved or shut up" Milk, ran for city council and lost his
first few attempts, but still helped people around him, and built a strong
platform and beautiful relationships, and later finally won that seat on San Francisco’s
Board of Supervisors. He was a proud
person and stood for justice and equality – Causes were also important to Milk;
he promoted larger and less expensive child care facilities, free public
transportation, and the development of a board of civilians to oversee the
police. He advanced important neighborhood issues at every opportunity” and
honestly cared about his neighbors and surroundings to make it a better place
and environment!
Even when initiatives were being fought and not won by
the popular vote, his take; “We are educating………………..”
Harvey Milk was assassinated and passed away at the age
of 48; Milk had a MAJOR and loving impact on humankind. He was a true hero for
all humankind and was taken way too early from us. I remember that very day walking in the hallway of my high school in San Francisco, California.
How about our anti-heroes (not being too specific-we
all know the villains and haters, and ALL have strong opinions!!!and opinions are just that...) or the
people/groups that show malicious intent, or the not so correct people? We can always feel the hurt, we can feel the
shame, and experience the horrible pain, the loss, and A-L-L in major
disbelief! We do indeed see it! We question it with a disgusting AWE! We as the masses can literally stop and shut
down? – ABSOLUTELY NO!.......WE MUST CONSTANTLY STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS IN AN ACCEPTABLE
AND RESPECTABLE MANNER AND HAVE A PROACTIVE IMPACT ON ALL SOCIETY…
We may not always agree in a cause, a stance, a reason,
or the platform of delivery, but respecting one’s legal rights, and more
importantly, their HUMAN RIGHTS is so very vital, be it yesterday, today, and
or for our future and all Humankind!
The media, be it in print, or the likes of social media
has brought this to the forefront, “ALL LIVES MATTER (YES, THEY DO!!), deriving
from BLACK lives matter! (YES THEY DO!!).
Opinion is just that- Nike literally this week has a new “Just Do
It” campaign with Colin Kaepernick, like it? Not agree??? He has made a statement of Social Impact-
agreed or disagreed with the platform is a totally different topic! He did NOT ‘Shut up’ or roll over- he made an
important point that effects ALL Human kind! Equality! Again, I am sharing his
impact, not his stance, and yes opinion
is most definitely divided!
As Harvey Milk
stated, “Even when initiatives were being fought and not won by the popular
vote, his take; “We are educating………………..”
Let’s continue to EDUCATE,, to Grow, and……. to love, to walk
in a positive way and manner,… let us all be
fair, stand up for A-L-L Humankind in a calm and humane manner and behavior,
and show LOVE (AHAVA)!
L' Shana Tova!
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